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McInally's World Cup XI

Alan McInally has picked his dream team of players from the 2010 World Cup. Who makes the cut?

Last Updated: 13/07/10 12:12pm

Plenty of players shone at the 2010 World Cup, but just who were the pick of the bunch?

We asked Sky Sports expert Alan McInally to choose his team of the tournament - and with a wealth of talent to choose from, that was no easy task.

In the end he settled on a 4-3-3 formation with plenty of the World Cup's big guns earning a place in the line-up.

Speaking about his selection he said: "It's frightening to leave players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney out of a dream team, but I'm talking about the players who shone at this World Cup.

"And I can't believe I've left out players like Gonzalo Higuain, Thomas Muller, Xavi and Wesley Sneijder - who were brilliant.

"There were plenty of other players who could have sneaked in to this team, but I think the eleven I have picked were crucial - if not mandatory - for their respective countries.

"Mark my words, this team would win the World Cup..."

Alan McInally's World Cup Dream XI:

Goalkeeper:

Iker Casillas (Spain)

It's a tough choice, but I think you have to go with Casillas. I'm sure he should be about 52 years old by now because he's been playing for Spain for so long; I think he made his Real Madrid debut when he was about 10! But on the occasions he was called upon at the World Cup, he didn't put a foot wrong. A lot of the other goalkeepers looked amateurish, punching the ball instead of catching it, but Casillas was pretty good.

Defenders:

Phillip Lahm (Germany)

I like Maicon of Brazil, who played more as a right winger at times, but I'm going for Lahm. I don't remember anybody getting past him in the tournament and I think he's an unsung hero to a certain extent, even though he's the Germany captain. People have criticised him, but I think he was the best right-back at the tournament.

Fabio Coentrao (Portugal)

I don't think many people knew about him before the World Cup, but he really stepped up to the plate in international football. After Portugal's games, we weren't talking about the likes of Deco or Cristiano Ronaldo, we were all talking about this lad. He really impressed me and he's my choice for left-back.

Carles Puyol (Spain)

I don't really like Carles Puyol, but I've got to take my hat off to him in this tournament because he was outstanding as a defender. He's like Spain's Franco Baresi. He got the Spain players by the scruff of the neck and made sure everybody did their job. He's also a danger in the other box at set pieces - as he proved in the semi-final with the only goal against Germany.

Lucio (Brazil)

He can be a little bit undisciplined at times because he likes to get forward and make a nuisance of himself, but he's still a very good defender. You don't really associate Brazil with top-class defenders, but I think he was one of the shining lights of the World Cup for them.

Midfield:

Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)

His performances against Argentina and England were first class. Germany don't panic on the ball and they like to keep possession which is massive at this level - and he's brilliant at doing that. Without him in the team, Germany wouldn't have got anywhere near the semi-finals. I think he looked a little bit tired against Spain, having won the domestic double with Bayern Munich, but he is almost a necessity in the middle of the park.

Mark van Bommel (Holland)

He'd be one of my middle men - because he's so dirty! He's somebody who says 'you ain't getting past me'. You need some steel in there and although he was lucky to not pick up a few more cards, I think he's a very good player. He had an unbelievable season for Bayern Munich and he can play a bit as well. He puts his foot in and sets the tone - and he would patrol my midfield, allowing more creative players like Andres Iniesta to do their thing.

Andres Iniesta (Spain)

He's got to be in the side after scoring in the World Cup Final. He can wake up every morning for the rest of his life, ask his wife for some paella and then remember who scored the winner in the World Cup Final! That's not any goal, that's the World Cup Final! I thought Xavi was magnificent, but Iniesta has got to get in the team for that reason.

Forwards:

David Villa (Spain)

I don't think Spain played well until the knock-out stages - they had to win their last group game to make sure they went through - but Villa warmed to the task. If anybody didn't think he was a £25million striker before the World Cup, he proved his worth. He's so clever, he's so direct and he's a good team player - and that's why I'd have him on the left-hand side where he played for Spain. He loves it out there because he can cut inside and do that right-footed curler that he does so well.

Diego Forlan (Uruguay)

His performances were quite unbelievable. About 10 of my best friends are Manchester United fans and when they were watching Uruguay's games I had to close their mouths about six times. He was scoring goals, he could play up front in a two or a three or even on his own. He was quite literally running the show for Uruguay, end of story and that's why he's in my team.

Miroslav Klose (Germany)

He had a disaster season, but when he gets to the World Cup he's just phenomenal. Maybe it's because he was as fresh as a daisy because he hardly played for Bayern Munich all year. There were some unbelievable strikers at this World Cup, but many of them didn't shine and Klose did. With Villa on the left, Forlan on the right and Klose up front, I reckon this team would win every game 10-0!

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